Detect Microsoft Internet Explorer Use-After-Free Vulnerability (CVE-2010-0249) in Google Chronicle
CVE-2010-0249 is a use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) in Microsoft Internet Explorer that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a specially crafted web page. This vulnerability was actively exploited in the wild (Operation Aurora) and is listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Exploitation typically involves a malicious HTML/JavaScript page that triggers memory corruption through manipulated DOM objects, enabling arbitrary code execution in the context of the logged-on user.
MITRE ATT&CK
YARA-L Detection Query
rule cve_2010_0249_ie_child_process {
meta:
author = "df00tech"
description = "Detects Internet Explorer spawning suspicious child processes consistent with CVE-2010-0249 exploitation"
severity = "CRITICAL"
cve = "CVE-2010-0249"
events:
$proc.metadata.event_type = "PROCESS_LAUNCH"
re.regex($proc.principal.process.file.full_path, `(?i).*iexplore\.exe$`)
re.regex($proc.target.process.file.full_path, `(?i).*(cmd|powershell|wscript|cscript|mshta|regsvr32|rundll32)\.exe$`)
condition:
$proc
}Chronicle YARA-L rule detecting Internet Explorer (iexplore.exe) as a parent process spawning known command interpreters or script engines, a reliable indicator of browser exploitation via CVE-2010-0249.
Data Sources
Required Tables
False Positives & Tuning
- Automated browser control frameworks using IE COM interfaces that also spawn cmd.exe
- Enterprise kiosk applications built on Internet Explorer that invoke shell commands
- Legacy intranet portals with embedded ActiveX controls launching local executables
- Security testing environments replicating exploit chains for research
Other platforms for CVE-2010-0249
Testing Methodology
Validate this detection against 3 adversary techniques from Atomic Red Team. Each test below lists the behaviour to exercise and the telemetry you should expect to see. Executable commands and cleanup steps are available with Pro.
- Test 1Simulate IE Use-After-Free Child Process Spawn
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1 showing cmd.exe with ParentImage pointing to iexplore.exe; file creation event for cve_2010_0249_test.txt in %TEMP%
- Test 2IE Spawning PowerShell Downloader (Post-Exploit Simulation)
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 1 with ParentImage iexplore.exe and Image powershell.exe; command line containing -NonInteractive visible in process telemetry
- Test 3Anomalous IE Network Beacon on Non-Standard Port
Expected signal: Sysmon Event ID 3 network connection event with InitiatingProcessFileName iexplore.exe and DestinationPort 4444; connection attempt logged even on failure
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